1. family and parenting
2. children

TENDING TO OUR ROAD OF FAITH
COMMITMENT SUNDAY
November 16, 2014
Leesburg Presbyterian Church
Standing on the past…
Reaching for the future
Leesburg, Virginia
1804
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A)
Order of Worship for the 23nd Sunday after Pentecost
Commitment Sunday
8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
When the church bell is rung, let us be silent for worship.
*Please stand if able
PRELUDE
Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ
J. S. Bach
THE GREETING OF GOD’S PEOPLE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you are sitting at the end of a pew, please start the friendship register by signing it and
passing it to your neighbor.
Wherever you may be in the journey of faith, Leesburg Presbyterian Church welcomes
you. We are a community where persons from different faith backgrounds and
understandings find unity in the wide embrace of Christ’s love and call to service. If you
are passing through, we extend God’s blessing to you as you continue on your way. If you
are seeking a home, we invite you to join us in the adventure of serving Jesus Christ in a
challenging world.
*CALL TO WORSHIP
We have been blessed by the Eternal God, who has been faithful to us.
As thankful stewards, we will remain faithful to God.
We have been called by Christ, Son of God and Son of Man.
As redeemed stewards, we will remain faithful to Christ.
God has empowered us with the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter and Guide.
As Spirit-filled stewards, we will remain faithful to the work of the Risen Lord
in our world.
*HYMN # 555
“Now Thank We All Our God”
NUN DANKET ALLE GOTT
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, forgive our fear that comes from a lack of trust in your
providential care for us. Forgive when we are so focused on our own
interests, that we choose to ignore your calling to think on a grander scale
and live with a grander vision. You know our needs. You know what it takes
for the tasks you have called us to. Help us to be satisfied when our needs
are met and to be joyful when we can share with others. (time for silent,
personal confession) Amen.
BLESSING OF FORGIVENESS
*RESPONSE # 581
“Gloria Patri”
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
TIME WITH CHILDREN
ANTHEM
We Shall Walk Through the Valley
THE SCRIPTURE LESSON
Matthew 25:14-30
SERMON
HYMN # 716
arr. U. S. Moore
Pew Bible, pp. 28-29
Rev. Deborah Dodson Parsons
“God Whose Giving Knows No Ending”
BEACH SPRING
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and
the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
THE OFFERING
You are invited to come forward with your offering and your pledge card to place in the
basket on the Table. We will begin in the balcony and then proceed from back to front in the
lover level of the sanctuary. Or you may place your offering or pledge in a basket on the
credenza in the foyer.
OFFERTORY
Simple Gifts
arr. James Pethel
*DOXOLOGY
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Eternal God, we bow before you today in gratitude for the many blessings you
have given us. Help us to remember your generosity, and to thank you for
every good gift that we enjoy and for your faithfulness in times of adversity.
Just as you are always faithful to us, help us to remember to be faithful to
you.
As we make decisions about how to use the many gifts we have received from
you, guide us by your Holy Spirit to be good stewards so that we will make
the best use of those gifts for the sake of your kingdom. In the strong and
holy name of Jesus, Our Friend and Savior. Amen
*HYMN # 391
“Take My Life”
HENDON
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
Pasticcio
Jean Langlais
TODAY’S SERVICE MUSIC
Prelude -- Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ
This short trio (1717) is found in J. S. Bach’s keyboard collection titled The Little
Organ Book, which was used for instruction in how to compose various treatments
of hymn melodies. The pedal line consists of constant eighth notes, and the
middle voice is an unbroken string of sixteenth notes; the florid melody is ornamented in typical Baroque fashion. Text: I call to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, to hear my
lamentation. Bestow thy grace upon me so that I do not despair, and give me the
right faith to live for Thee, to be useful to my neighbor, and to keep thy word
properly.
Anthem – We Shall Walk Through the Valley
The origins of this song are disputed. It is often listed as a spiritual, but many
sources name A. T. Hatter as the composer of both melody and words. Spirituals
arose from slaves who sang while performing field work, and most of them had
texts with religious themes. Whatever its source, this serene tune is set to a text
that paraphrases Psalm 23. In 1977, African-American composer Undine Smith
Moore (1904-1989) crafted this choral arrangement that has been performed and
recorded countless times. Ms. Moore was the first graduate of Nashville’s Fisk
University to be awarded a scholarship to Juilliard (NYC).
Offertory -- Simple Gifts
The Shaker tune Simple Gifts was composed by Joseph Brackett, Jr. (1797-1882)
while he was living in the Shaker village of Alfred, Maine during the summer of
1848. Its popularity transcended religious use; Simple Gifts was sung by Jessye
Norman at Ronald Reagan’s 1985 inauguration and by Marilyn Horne at Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993. Aaron Copeland also used the melody in a movement
of his Appalachian Spring ballet (1944), which premiered at the Library of Congress
in Washington, DC. James Pethel was born in 1936 in Gainesville, GA, although
he has spent most of his life in Jefferson City, TN, as composer-in-residence and
professor of music at Carson-Newman College. He has served several churches
as organist, and the majority of his works have been written for organ solo.
Postlude -- Pasticcio
Blind French organist, composer and teacher Jean Langlais (1907-1991) was titular
organist at Sainte-Clotilde in Paris for 43 years, Langlais followed in the footsteps of
César Franck and Charles Tournemire. All three of their names are carved in stone
to the left of the west entrance doors of the basilica. Pasticcio (1956) is a brisk
march that imitates an Italian musical form known as a canzona. The piece was
written as a wedding gift for Jacqueline Marchal and Guiseppe Englert; Jacqueline
was the daughter of André Marchal, one of Langlais’s first teachers.
Children in Worship
Because the safety of our young children matters deeply to all of us, we encourage
families with little ones to choose a seat other than the front row of the balcony.
NURSERY CARE is provided from 8:15am to 12:15pm for infants through 3 year
olds. Miss Pat and Miss Angie are our professional caregivers. Children can be dropped off in
the Nursery, located at the east end of the first floor of the Education Wing. We ask that only
parents drop off their children.
GODLY PLAY is offered from 11:20am to 12:00pm, for children age 4 to 3 rd grade. Children
are dismissed to Godly Play immediately after the Time with the Children. Godly Play provides
age appropriate worship for children, which helps them deepen their understanding of God
through storytelling, hands-on activities, and prayer. Our acolytes will escort children to Godly
Play.
At the 8:30am and 11:00 am services, we ask children who are in 4 th grade and above to
remain in the sanctuary to participate in worship.
Children in Church School
Church School is offered between our two services of worship from 9:45am to 10:45am
for children age 3 to 5th grade. Church School takes place in the Education Wing, and is led
by members and parents, who serve our children and their families in this vital ministry. We
have three classes: Preschool meets downstairs in Rm. 4, Kindergarten-2nd grade meet
upstairs in Rm. 3, and 3rd-5th grade meet upstairs in Rm. 2.
Youth Group is held every Sunday evening, upstairs in the Fellowship Hall, from 5:30 to
7:15pm. Our Youth Group is for 7th-12th graders. Each night we have games, food, a
short study or devotion, and end with a game of choice. If you would like a calendar of
Youth Group events, please contact Pastor James: revjames@lpcva.org. Laura
Herring, Wes Rhodes, and Pastor James are the adult leadership, and our meals are
provided by Youth Group parents.
To Our Visitors Whether you have visited with us before or are visiting today for the first
time, we hope you experience the open-hearted hospitality of the Living Christ in our
community of faith as we gather in his name for Sabbath worship. Because it is our
desire to get to know you better and to be able to communicate with you about our life
and ministry, we appreciate you filling out the attendance register. One becomes a
member of a Presbyterian church in one of three ways: 1) Profession of Faith,
2) Re-affirmation of Faith, 3) by Letter of Transfer from a previous church.
ASSISTING:
Liturgists:
Ushers:
Acolytes:
Flowers:
WORSHIP VOLUNTEERS
8:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
Sally Nathan
Keith Markel
Kathy & Brad Brown
Bud & Joan Elliott
Bailey Vigil & Megan Helge
Given in loving memory of Mary Hunter Leach.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS WEEK
Sunday—Worship at 8:30am & 11:00 am
Adult Education 9:45 am
Youth Group 5:30 pm
Monday, November 17—Monday Morning Stitchers—11:00 am
Wednesday, November 19 — Session 7:30 pm
Thursday, November 20 - Choir 7:30 pm
We express our love and sympathy to Susan and Matt Howard and their
three children upon the death of Susan’s beloved father, John Wright Woodruff. His service was Friday, November 14th at Newton Presbyterian Church.
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS LED BY OUR PASTORS
Making Sense of the Bible with short video presentations by
Adam Hamilton
A Six-Week Series
Making Sense about the Nature of Scripture – November 16
The Bible and Science- November 23
Violence, Suffering, and Other Troubling Issues – November 30
Wrestling with Issues of Sexuality and Relationships – December 7
We need USHERS! Our immediate need is for one more usher for the second
Sunday of each month at the 8:30am service and two to serve at the 11:00am
service. If you would like to join this important ministry, please talk to Pastor
Debbie or contact the church office at 703-777-4163.
Christmas Cantata: To Us a Child Is Born
The centerpiece of our December 14 morning worship services will be the
Bach/Kuhnau cantata "Uns is ein Kind geboren" presented by our choristers, vocal soloists and a chamber orchestra. Please note the altered
service times of 9:30 and 11:15 for worship through music of the
Christmas season: congregational carols, choral anthems and
instrumental music.
LEESBURG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
207 West Market Street, Leesburg VA 20176
Phone: 703-777-4163
www.LeesburgPresbyterian.org
Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday: 9-3; Friday: 9-2
The Back Pew - The deadline for the December issue of The Back Pew is
Friday, November 21. Please send your submissions to the church—
office@lpcva.org.
ELDERS
2015
Trish Fraker
Frank Gasperini
Keith Markel
2016
Todd Joyce
Linda Rawlett
Wynne Rodgers
Cameron Spivey
2017
Wayne Helge
Kim Hovda
Jim Ruddell
Sheryl Tompkins
DEACONS
Kristin Moats
Florence O’Hey
Sharon Schmidt
Dennis Welsh
Rebecca Caprio
Joan Elliott
Sofia Spivey
Krista Ritsema
Christian Hoff
William Marsh
Susan Sutter
Stuart Weikel
Pastor
Associate Pastor
Administrator
Prayer Chain
Business Manager
Music Director
Nursery
CHURCH STAFF
Deborah Parsons
revdeb@lpcva.org
James Cubie
revjames@lpcva.org
Denise Sheehan
office@lpcva.org
Peggy Moats
prayer@lpcva.org
Julie Koochagian
bookkeeper@lpcva.org
Terry Sisk
music@lpcva.org
Patricia Medina & Angie Wynder
The Holiday Coalition Christmas Giving Tree
is set up in the back of the Fellowship Hall. Choose one or more
ornaments.
A guide for what to give the person on your ornament will be posted
on the wall next to the tree and several lists will be in the window sill
next to the tree. Feel free to take one. All gifts must be under the tree
by Sunday, November 30th. Please do not wrap the gifts.
Gift Suggestions—New Items Only
Clothing: Complete outfits for infants through teens.
Toys: New Toys of all kinds and books for infants through teens.
Teens: New electronic games, jewelry, purses, toiletry items.
Adults & Seniors: Blankets and quits, warm sweaters and
cardigans (especially XL and up), hats and gloves, underwear
(larger sizes) and socks.
Gift Certificates: Varied certificates for teenage gifts, as well as
grocery store gift cards. Certificates in small amounts such as
$10 and $20.